by Kay Leitch
'Tracy are you ok, you're bleeding, what did this bastard do to you?' She had not noticed that she had blood on her sleeve where she had been holding the man's head.
'Oh no, I'm ok, it's not me that's hurt it's him,' she said pointing to the man still lying semi-conscious on the floor. 'Giles got angry and gave him a right pasting, I think the police are on their way.'
As soon as the words were out of her mouth the police arrived followed quickly by the paramedics, and the injured man and his still irate girlfriend were led away to the back room of the pub.
The rest of the pub's diners realising that the excitement was over went back to their meals and within minutes it was as if nothing had happened.
Tracy followed Simon back to the bar, and he got them both a drink. 'What the hell happened?' he asked when they were sat down.
'I'm not really sure,' said Tracy. 'One minute we were having a chat at the bar and then we heard someone shouting at Vanessa, getting really nasty you know, he was obviously drunk and was refusing to pay for something, and he started getting a bit personal, and Giles…well he just went mad, he rushed over there and started beating the man senseless…it was awful, I've never seen anyone lose it like that.' Tracy was still trembling.
'It's really shaken you up hasn't it love?' he put an arm round her shoulders and much to Tracy's embarrassment she felt her eyes welling up, she desperately tried to control herself but soon she was crying in earnest, great gulping sobs, snot and everything, could this evening get any worse? Simon held her until he felt her sobs subside, he handed her a paper serviette and she noisily blew her nose.
'I'm so sorry; I don't know what you must think of me…'
'Don't be stupid, I don't think anything, you are just reacting to a shocking situation, although I do think the wailing and banging your head against the brick wall was a bit excessive…' at Tracy's watery laugh he smiled, 'That's better, I think that lady police officer is trying to get your attention by the way.' Tracy looks over and saw Carla hovering discreetly near the bar, obviously getting the wrong idea about her and Simon.
'Hurrumph…if I'm not interrupting anything, could I have a quick word Tracy?' she gave Simon a warm smile as she said this and looked enquiringly at Tracy.
'Oh no…nothing like that,' said Tracy hastily, 'this is just Simon…er Mr Burton…um he is working at the school at the moment, I had no idea he would be here tonight.'
Simon looked from one to the other, then stood and shook his head, 'Right, well maybe I'll see you at school in the morning Tracy…er I mean Ms Dawlish,' he said cuttingly and after throwing Tracy a filthy look over his shoulder he stalked off.
'Oh god I seem to have upset him again, why do I keep doing that?' said Tracy miserably.
'Well you certainly looked cosy when I arrived, so that's the impossible Mr Burton is it, he seems nice, Harry can't stop talking about him, absolutely idolises him, Mr Burton said this, Mr Burton can do that, what is it about him that winds you up the wrong way?'
'Oh I don't know, he hasn't done anything wrong as such, it's just that I always feel even more of a geeky fool when he's around…and I always seem to be making a fool of myself…oh it's not his fault and actually he was being really nice just now, even though he must have been so embarrassed what with me crying into his shoulder…anyway, I suppose you want to know what happened, do you need me to talk into a tape or something?'
'No of course not, just fill me in on what happened to cause Giles to flip like that.'
'Well no matter what chavy 'Chelsea' will tell you it wasn't unprovoked, I mean the guy was being a total knob, he threw a plate of food onto the floor and was really nasty to Vanessa, but I don't know about you I'm sure we've seen Giles deal with worse than that before without getting violent…it was like he'd turned into a different person, one minute he was sweet chatty Giles and the next he was the Incredible Hulk.'
'So who threw the first punch? Because I'm afraid that's going to be all that matters here,' said Carla grimly.
'Well technically that was Giles, but honestly Carla that idiot was asking for it…' Tracy broke off as Giles, being led by two policemen, walked past the door and out into the waiting car outside. They were followed by a very distressed Vanessa, she glanced at Tracy as she went passed and Tracy barely held back a gasp, that was definitely the same desperate face that she had seen on the common. 'Oh my god Carla that was definitely her…you know the girl on the common I'd recognise that haunted look anywhere.'
'Tracy I want you to promise me that you won't mention the woman on the common to anyone, ok? We have got a very real, very nasty murderer on our hands and I for one think that he is still here in our village, so until he is caught you keep schtum comprende?'
'Ok ok I won't shout my mouth off, but promise me you will look into it Carla because I'm beginning to think that there is something really weird happening in our village,' said Tracy welling up again.
Carla gave Tracy a hug and then made her way upstairs to the little flat above the pub that Giles shared with Vanessa, to try and calm down the furious knob and his chavy girlfriend!
Tracy didn't feel like staying on at the pub, so she wandered home.
Buster, sensing that she was feeling low, in a way only a dog can, nuzzled her hand as she came in, and snuggled right up next to her on the couch his head on her lap, occasionally giving her looks of support.
'Thank goodness for you Buster,' said Tracy tearfully as she gave into another bout of sobbing, so much so that she almost didn't hear the door bell, but Buster did and ran out to bark at any potential intruders.
Simon was standing on the doorstep looking a bit embarrassed.
'Look Tracy I'm sorry I left the pub like I did, I know it was childish but I got it into my head that you were ashamed to be seen with me in front of your friend, obviously now I've had a chance to think about it I realise that you couldn't possibly be, so I thought I'd come and see if you fancied coming out with me one night…I mean like a date…or not a date if that's rushing things, maybe just a friendly night out with a co-worker…or something?'
Tracy smiled up at him (it was a long way up) and said shyly, 'Something sounds great to me, do you want to come in for a coffee?'
'Er…no I don't think I will, your dog looks like he's already decided I'm up to no good, so I'll see you in school tomorrow and we'll arrange an evening…ok?'
Sure enough Buster did seem to have taken exception to Simon, and was growling softly at him, 'Buster! Stop that…oh no I think he's jealous stupid dog …as if anyone could take your place my little plumptious.'
Seeing that Tracy had descended into soppy baby talk, Simon though it prudent to take his leave, 'Well, see you tomorrow Tracy…I like your jumper by the way…bye.'
'Bye,' called Tracy mystified by his last comment, until she looked in the mirror and realised that the old jumper she had grabbed at random out of her enormous ironing pile when she had come home, was one she'd bought to wear to a girlfriends hen do, it was bright pink with the logo for a tequila joint on it and the words 'LIQUER IN THE FRONT & POKER IN THE REAR' written in very large letters!
CHAPTER 34 - CARLA
Carla made her way up the back stairs of the pub into the stylish flat above. It was the first time she had been up here and she could see that Giles and Vanessa had spared no expense kitting out the place. Off a small landing was a kitchen to her left, where Carla could see the paramedics patching up the injured man, and a living room straight ahead, where judging from the language coming from it, the girlfriend Chelsea was being questioned about the attack. Carla went into the living room and looked round admiringly, they had certainly done a good job in here, the room was decorated in creams and beige, the wooden floor was covered with a beautiful thick yellow and saffron coloured Indian rug which matched the curtains at the huge bay windows. On the walls were tasteful canvases all in the same muted colours, and the window sills were covered with photos of Giles and Vanessa's many glamorous holidays.
Chelsea was sitting on one of the plush cream sofa's still shouting at the policewoman who was trying to interview her.
'That's what I'm trying to tell you, he just went for him, and all Sean was trying to do was complain about the meal, he hadn't liked it, his steak was still a bit bloody, you know some people don't like it like that do they? I actually like mine very bloody so I wasn't fussed but Sean said at those fucking prices the steak should be cooked at least, so he goes off on one to that snotty cow, that Vanessa, when all of a sudden the old bloke comes rushing over and starts punching him. Sean goes down but the other bugger he doesn't stop does he, he just carries on punching him when he's lying on the fucking floor…I mean can you believe it, what a fucking nutter…anyway Vanessa, that snotty bitch she pulls him off eventually and I called you lot…is Sean ok can I go and see him now?'
'I wonder if I can just ask you a couple of questions…um Chelsea is it?' said Carla moving over to the sofa opposite Chelsea.
'Can you remember exactly what was said in the argument with Mrs Poole…Vanessa?'
'No not really…Sean just said he wasn't going to pay and she…Mrs Poole said that was ok but then she made out that he'd already eaten most of the steak, so Sean he went off on one didn't he, calling her a snotty cow, which she is, always looking down her nose at me as if I'm rubbish …'
'I'm sorry, er… have you had arguments before with Mrs Poole, do you know her?'
'Used to work for her, when they first set up the restaurant, but I couldn't put up with the way she likes to be the queen bee all over the place…she really thinks she's something special and he, that Giles, he's all over her, anything she wants she gets…she talks to him like he's shit but he still grovels round her…it's pathetic and he's so much older, I think it's a bit weird myself.'
'So you can't remember anything specific that Sean might have said that would trigger an attack?'
'Well he was pretty angry by that time, I mean she was almost calling him a liar…saying it was funny how he'd managed to eat most of his steak if it was so disgusting, so he…um Sean that is, he may have said a couple of nasty things back to her…I mean she deserved all she got..snotty cow…looking like she's so superior, when I know for a fact that she used to be hooker before she got her claws into money bags Giles of course.'
'Really? How exactly do you know that, Chelsea?'
'Well when I say I know for a fact, what I mean is that it was the talk of the kitchens, and there's no smoke without fire is there? I mean look at 'im, that Giles, 'es not exactly Brad Pitt is 'e, and she Vanessa…well she's a bit of a looker isn't she, what's she doing with 'im, if not for the money, that's all I meant, obviously I don't know for sure…but come on it makes sense don't it?'
'Was that the sort of thing Sean was saying to her, is that what upset Giles so much?'
'No, 'e never mentioned that…he was just calling Giles an old codger…you know saying how Vanessa must think she's fucking 'er dad…that sort of stuff.'
'Oh I see…just that sort of stuff…ok Chelsea thanks for your help; I'll just check on how Sean's doing, I expect you'll be able to go home soon.'
Carla stood to go into the kitchen when one of the pictures on the window sill behind Chelsea caught her eye, it was of Vanessa and she was laughing and putting two fingers up to the camera… the likeness to Louise was uncanny, she put a hand to her aching temples…there were just so many things coming at her from different angles like a great big jigsaw puzzle, how the hell was she going to fit all the pieces together?
Once the paramedics had finished bandaging up Sean, Carla sent both he and Chelsea home with a promise that she would be in touch and went back to the station to speak to Giles and Vanessa.
Vanessa was waiting in the station’s reception area and she pounced on Carla as soon as she saw her.
'Oh thank god Carla can I see him please, they won't let me in with him.'
'I'm sorry love but you'll just have to be patient, I'm going to talk to him now and hopefully he'll be out soon ok?'
She looked anything but satisfied but sat back down resignedly. Carla went through to the interview rooms where Giles was being held, he looked small and old, nothing like the usual bluff good natured Giles that Carla was used to.
'Are you being looked after ok, would you like a coffee?' she asked as she walked in. Giles raised red rimmed eyes. 'I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me, is he alright, that lad, do you know Carla, have you seen him?'
'Oh he'll be fine…it's you I'm worried about Giles, what possessed you to go wading in like that, I've seen you deal with some right hard nuts, but you've never used violence before, what was different about this time…Tracy said he was saying some pretty nasty stuff to Vanessa, was that it?'
'He was out of order, some of the stuff he said, it was disgusting, shouldn't speak to a lady like that, little prick.' Giles was obviously getting angry again.
'Well I'm afraid he's going to press charges against you, and if what we have been told by the other diners is true, you don't have much of a defence sweetheart I'm afraid,' said Carla putting her hand on Giles's shoulder in sympathy. 'No matter how rude he was you shouldn't have hit him…this is so out of character Giles, is there something going on with you that you need to talk about…is everything ok between you and Vanessa…I couldn't help but notice that Vanessa has been looking a bit stressed lately…'
'We're fine,' Giles interrupted sitting up straighter. 'Vanessa's been a bit tired lately that's all, and I suppose I just got a bit too macho in my defence of her tonight that's all…what happens now, to me I mean?'
'Oh well you will be charged with assault and given bail until the hearing I expect, then it's up to the magistrate to decide…you've never done anything like this before so hopefully they won't be too hard on you…but I'm afraid you'll have to stay here tonight and see the magistrate first thing in the morning for your bail hearing.'
'Can I see Vanessa, is she here?'
'Yes she's still here but you won't be able to see her tonight I'm afraid…don't worry I'll make sure she gets home ok.'
Carla gave Giles a hug and went back down to the reception to speak to Vanessa, 'What's happening? It's been hours, how is he?' Carla waited until Vanessa took a breath.
'He's fine, don't worry. He'll have to stay here tonight so there's no point in you sitting here any longer; I promised Giles I would take you home.'
Vanessa stood up angrily and started pacing the room, 'Why is he staying here? You can't possibly be arresting him, you should have heard how that vulgar little toad spoke to me, Giles was just standing up for me. This is all wrong it's that ghastly little pleb that should be arrested… he threw his plate on the floor, surely that's provocation enough?'
Carla waited for her to stop before she said, 'Vanessa, Giles punched him in the face until he bled, and according to witnesses he carried on punching him after he was on the floor, that is assault, and that's what he is being charged with.' Vanessa groaned. 'Don't worry he'll get bail, he'll be home by the morning probably. Come on let's get you home you look shattered.'
She led Vanessa out to her car. She looked completely shell shocked as if it had never occurred to her that Giles would be charged. They drove in silence for a while then Carla said, 'Where did you live before coming to Kenley, I think I heard Giles talking about Ashford, is that in Kent?'
'Yes that where Giles and I met, I was working for him, um as his P.A., when he asked me out one day, he was always so kind and gentle, not like those others so I said yes and the rest as they say is history.'
'Which others? You said not like those others who did you mean?'
Vanessa looked startled, 'Did I? Oh you know men in general…I mean they're all just a lower form of life when all's said and done aren't they?' she looked at Carla expecting an answer, Carla gave her a tight smile and said, 'Well you got lucky with Giles then didn't you, I mean apart from tonight I don't think I've ever heard him say a nasty word to anyone…that'
s what's got me in a puzzle about tonight, what on earth did that man say that got Giles so mad, he said it was disgusting, what was it Vanessa can you remember?'
'Sorry no,' said Vanessa in a bored voice 'it's all a blur to me…I know he was teasing Giles about being old, maybe it was that…stupid man, what on earth was he thinking, goodness knows what this will do to trade when it gets out.'
'Oh I shouldn't worry about that, it'll probably go through the roof, you know what people are like they love a good scandal…so where did you live before Ashford, or were you brought up there?'
Vanessa looked at Carla, 'What are you asking about that for, it's not me that's been arrested is it?'
'No of course not, I'm just interested that's all, what made you choose Kenley, do you have relatives near here…apart from your dad of course, must be nice having him so close.' Vanessa stiffened, 'Who told you my Dad was close by?' she asked sharply.
'Well it's not a secret is it, as it happens a friend of mine knows one of the staff at Happy Valley, she mentioned that your dad was a resident there.'
Vanessa threw her hands into the air in disgust.
'Fucking hell this is why I hate this village,' she said practically spitting the words. 'Small town gossip and interference, what business is it of anybody's where my father lives…I told Giles I wanted to go abroad, but no he wanted a little village pub, now look what's happened, he's in jail and I'm…' she stopped suddenly as if she realised that she was talking too freely.
'You're what Vanessa?' prompted Carla.
'Oh nothing, sorry I'm just stressed to the max, truth is I don't like talking about my Dad, we don't get on.'
'Oh that's a shame…why's that then?' said Carla pushing her again.
'For god's sake! What's with all the questions, I just can't stand him ok, he was a total bastard to my Mum, drove her to her death if you must know…' she turned and looked at Carla. 'My Mum put up with that bastard for 20 years…she was a beauty when she met him but by the time she died she was a shrivelled up old lady. Why do we women do it Carla, let men grind us down…sometimes I feel as if I'm beaten, life has taken everything from me, my youth, my family and just when I start to believe that I can have a life, something good and bright, life just comes along and pisses all over me again…' she put her head in her hands.